Forest fires cause Norway rail chaos

Rail services in and out of Oslo have been heavily disrupted due to out-of-control forest fires.

Forest fires are playing havoc with rail services in Norway, causing numerous cancellations and delays as the national rail operator NSB struggles to find enough replacement buses.

The state-owned rail operator is advising passengers in the area served by the line between Oslo and Gjøvik not to travel, the news agency NTB and website The Local report.

Meanwhile, a fire that broke out on Sunday on the line between Sandermosen and Hakadal, is now under control, but the services there are still suspended.

“In the area south of the Oslo city limits where we are working, things are under control. We have two fire engines at the scene in control extinguishing the fire,” emergency services coordinator Hans Kristian Steen told NTB.

And a large-scale blaze spreading north in the Nittedal municipality is now reported to be under control.

“We had an extensive operation in Nittedal. There were fires on the same route at the same time in Oslo, so we were unable to get much support,” said another emergency services spokesman.

Bus scramble
Replacement buses have been brought in to cover for the disrupted rail traffic, but the NSB admits it is still struggling to cope.

“We are already using 300 buses due to other planned works. We have been making calls all night in order to reallocate but have not been as successful as we would have liked,” NSB’s chief press officer told Dagbladet.